By The Associated Press.
Raleigh, N. C. -- NASCAR lost its third promising driver in three years with the death of DAVEY ALLISON, sending the close knit sport into another state of grief.
It's ironic that all three deaths have come off the track, where drivers often risk their lives at speeds approaching 200 mph.
ALLISON'S death Tuesday from a helicopter crash at Talladega Superspeedway was less than four months after 1992 Winston Cup champion ALAN KULWICKI perished in a small plane crash near Bristol, Tenn.
"The mood is kind of similar to what it was when ALAN passed away," said PAUL ANDREWS, crew chief for KULWICKI Racing. "It's still close to home and it hit us kind of hard. A lot of our old memories are brought back now."
The circuit also lost its 1990 rookie of the year when ROB MOROSO was killed in an auto accident on a North Carolina road in 1991. Four members of MOROSO'S team later joined ALLISON'S crew.
"It's devastating, but I believe it will make a closer knit racing family than it was before," said RICHARD YATES, business manager for ROBERT YATES Racing, owner of ALLISON'S team.
"Everybody realizes that all of us are subject to the same dangers. It brings us closer to home but to a big family."
H. A. "HUMPY" WHEELER, president of Charlotte Motor Speedway and a longtime veteran of NASCAR, said the sport still hasn't recovered from the loss of KULWICKI.
"This (ALLISON'S death) leaves a void for all of us because we were really just beginning to accept ALAN'S death," said WHEELER, a personal friend of the ALLISON racing family. "Everyone is still looking for ALAN to come back. You expect ALAN to be there in the garage. It sounds crazy but that is the way you think when you're on the circuit -- now this."
ALLISON and KULWICKI also were two of the sport's most popular drivers among fans, and not just in the South, where racing has its roots.
ALLISON appears in a commercial for Texaco Havoline Racing with Indy great MARIO ANDRETTI. He also advertised his own brand of chili, and his racing souvenirs and T-shirts are among the most popular in NASCAR.
Fans left flowers and cards Tuesday on the fence surrounding ALLISON'S shop in Charlotte.